National

Friends say Elie Malkoun punched his wife Manal in the face shortly after the birth of their first child. Source:
Herald Sun

A WOMAN who married into a Melbourne major crime family has pleaded with police to save her from her violent husband who is due to return to Australia after serving two years in a US prison for gun offences.

Convicted heroin trafficker Elie Malkoun was due to be released at the weekend after earlier telling US authorities his wife Manal Malkoun and his five young children were not coping without him.

Malkoun was jailed after being caught buying three illegal pistols - including one with a laser sight - at an Arizona gun show.

He is the brother of Amad "Jay" Malkoun - the Victorian president of the Comanchero motorcycle gang.

The two brothers spent much of the 1990s in prison after being convicted over what was at the time Victoria's largest heroin bust.

The brothers were caught in a National Crime Authority sting, which saw 14 people prosecuted over the $5 million heroin ring.

The brothers, who trafficked the heroin in Melbourne and Perth through a network connected to nightclub scenes, emerged from prison to become regulars on Melbourne's King St nightclub strip.

Manal Malkoun has alleged her husband has regularly assaulted her during their 14-year relationship.

Friends say he punched her in the face shortly after the birth of their first child, dragging her down stairs and humiliating her in front of family members.

On January 31, 2009 - just months before he travelled to the US - Malkoun left his wife with serious injuries after beating her in front of their children.

Police wearing flak jackets were called after his wife managed to escape the house and Malkoun was charged over the incident. But his wife refused to give a statement and no conviction was recorded.

Friends say he has continued to threaten his wife from his Texas prison cell.

Mrs Malkoun last week declined to talk about her husband, but sources say she has asked authorities to help protect her once he returns home.

"I don't want to speak about him. I'm scared of him and fear for my safety. I'm just trying to move on with my life and look after my children," she said.

Malkoun faced up to 37 months in prison, but argued his wife had suffered "many breakdowns" since his arrest and that his children "need (him) home so I can care for them".

Malkoun's associates engaged psychologist Tim Watson-Munro who compiled a report based on interviews with family members.

Dr Watson-Munro said Mrs Malkoun had told him her husband was fascinated by guns. A report compiled by a US psychologist concluded Malkoun suffered borderline Asperger's syndrome and found it hard to make reasoned decisions.

They also found he was suffering long-term damage from injuries incurred during a kickboxing career and prison fights.

But the image of a depressed family man presented to US authorities doesn't tally with those who know the family.

Since doing jail time in the 1990s, Malkoun has managed to build his wealth, moving from Oak Park to a $1.8 million Brighton home, despite working only sporadically.

Malkoun failed to declare his criminal past when he entered the US. He was quizzed by Customs officials for more than an hour, but was allowed entry after telling them he was there to buy boats for export to Australia.

Prosecutors said Malkoun had tried and failed to buy guns at a gun shop in Arizona, but was knocked back when he could not show US identification. He then tried to persuade others to buy a gun for him.

In April, US authorities told the Sunday Herald Sun they were concerned by Malkoun's possible links to Mexican crime gangs.

"It would appear that on face value, it was more than him securing weapons for himself," one source said.

Colby Goodman, a researcher into international arms trafficking, said in April he doubted the guns Malkoun had bought were destined for Australia. "Either he was trying to get the guns into Mexico, or use them in the US. Without knowing, you can guess. He has a history of drug trafficking."

Manal Malkoun has declined to declined to talk about her husband but sources say she has asked authorities to help protect her once he returns home. Source: Supplied

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